Just Google it!

Every time we open a browser we prepare for searching in a way every time we prepare our brain to dispose off everything we wanted to know is available in google which conditions to us to ignore it. What we actually know we google it which leads our brain creativity in problematic.

The information stored in our memory on a long term basis is the unique intelligence. Still we may get the impact of long term memory by adapting our new response to this new reality afterall we can’t change the sea change of the information age. People have often forgotten the innovative connection between the reality and the information age.

Now in a way it’s less about the knowledge you have, and more about how you use the information at hand. We’re relying on Google to store knowledge long-term, instead of our own brains. Basically, our brain is learning to disregard information found online, and this connection becomes stronger every time we experience it. So the more we use Google, the less likely we are to retain what we see.

We need the unique memories to understand and interact with the world around us. If we rely on Google to store our knowledge, we may be losing an important part of our identity. Now it’s like Why to remember something if I know I can look it up again? In some sense, with Google and other search engines, we can offload some of our memory demands onto machines. The Internet's effects on memory are still unexplored territory, but to this conclusion: Internet has become our primary external storage system. Human memory is adapting to new communications technology.

Shroyee Malakar

Msc.Media || PG:1

Modi mandir : Height of sycophancy!

Minister narendra Modi was shocked and appalled by reports of a temple dedicated to him being built in his home state Gujrat following which his supporters droppes the plan and have decided to remove his bust. Modi, who was saddened by the news about the temple, asked people to instead put time and resources in fulfilling his dream of ‘Clean India’.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s fans had built MODI Temple where 3-ft tall idol of Narendra Modi, installed inside a 300-year-old Shiva temple at Bhagwanpur village of Kaushambi district to deify him, adding that such an act contradicted tradition.  Hundreds of his followers in the western city of Rajkot donated funds for a temple that features a seated statue of Modi and is topped out with a wind gauge shaped like a lotus, the symbol of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

A life-size marble idol of Narendra Modi worth Rs 1.7 lakh was installed in the sanctum by his supporters. The temple, funded by 300 admirers is located in a village 130 miles from Ahmedabad.   

Modi was appalled and shocked and was against India's great traditions. Building such temples is against India’s great traditions.

The idol, depicting Modi in a sitting position, was installed besides the Shivalinga. The temple, which had till recently been known as Shiv Mandir, is now called as “Namo-Namo Mandir”. The priest had placed the idol in the temple in January this year, ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, with an aim to pray to Lord Shiva to make Modi the prime minister by giving BJP a clear majority.

Villagers now recite bhajans written by Brijendra Narain Mishra, who is also the priest of the temple eulogising Modi even as regular prayers along with aarti is offered to both Lord Shiva and the PM everyday in morning and the evening. The 200-word aarti begins with “Jai Modi Raja, tere naam ka desh me danka baaja (Hail Modi who lords over the country)”. The priest in temple also seems to be dressed in BJB colors and also kept a Modi style beard.

People worshipping Modi like a God for a decade. The temple took a year to build. The Om Trust that governs the temple said it expected large crowds when the temple opened to the public because Narendra Modi is an icon for our youth.

He is just like a God for the younger generation and that's why they claimed to have built this temple.

The Rajkot district administration has removed the idol of Narendra Modi from the temple after the Prime Minister himself expressed his disapproval. The 'Om Yuva Group', who were behind the temple dedicated to Modi on Kothariya Road in Rajkot, cancelled its inauguration scheduled for February 15 and said they will now install an idol of 'Bharat Mata' at the shrine. Another member of the group Jayesh Patel said the temple will now be dedicated to 'Bharat Mata', whose idol will be installed at the shrine which has cost Rs seven lakh to build.

Modi's reaction unnerved some of those involved in the temple project, who plan to replace the statue of the prime minister with the idol of a Hindu god, but others were unfazed.

Shroyee Malakar
Msc.Media || PG:1

Happy birthday to you!

If one asked you to name the most popular song in English language what will be your answer? No, you need not to think so far. You post it almost every day in your friends' Facebook time line. Are you still confused? I am talking about "Happy birth Day", just three words to wish you best for rest of your entire life. Happy Birth Day to you or in short Happy Birth day is the most popular song in English and has the base lyrics in more than 18 language as a translated form.

The Lyrics "Happy Birth day" had come in print assisted by its melody since 1912. But, the critics believe that it is much older in origin. This is basically a folk song written by Patty Hill and Mildred J. Hill. But, if we delve deep in the song we will get some more interesting information about the song. 

The melody of the song has come from the song "Good Morning to All" which was introduced Patty's kindergarten class in 1893 by Hill sisters. The students of Hill sister liked the song and used to sing it in birth day parties for enjoy the moments. They just changed the lyrics with happy birth day, maintaining the melody same. Thus the song became famous and started to spread all over.

But, if you want sensational story about the song you may refer to  the famous performance  by Marilyn Monroe's rendition to U.S. President John F. Kennedy in May 1962. Comedy pianist Victor Borge played the song in styles of various composer and edited his name in history with the performance.

Sananya Dutta
Msc.Media || PG:1

The beauty fruit

Guava is a tropical fruit that is believed to have its origin in Central America where it was known as “sand plum”. Guava tree is a tropical evergreen shrub which is why it is a large berry which is round or oval in shape with light green or light yellow skin. The colour of its flesh varies from white or pink to dark red and has edible seeds. Generally it has a strong, sweet and pungent fragrance and its flavour ranges from strawberry or lemon to tropical. It is widely available in India and is locally known as “peru”.

Being rich in Vitamin A and C, this tropical fruit is great for the skin and hair. It is a powerhouse of nutrients like folic acid, potassium, copper and manganese. All these nutrients help regenerate skin cells and combat hair loss problems. So much so, that several cosmetic companies use it in a number of hair and skin treatments and creams.

Guavas are also a great source of Vitamin K, which helps in treating skin discoloration and problems like dark circles, acne irritation and redness. Using the guava as a scrub helps in improving the skin’s complexion and also removes impurities making it look young and fresh.

There are about a hundred other ways to use the guava. While buying guavas, we need to make sure we pick firm ones without any blemishes or soft spots. When using them in a dessert it should be ripe.

If we want to hasten the ripening process of the guava, we could keep it outside in a brown paper bag or in the rice container; otherwise if we would like to hang on to it for a few weeks before eating them, we could store them in refrigerator away from any other fruit.

Benefits of guava:

• Rich in Vitamin C: Guava contains Vitamin C and it helps protect cells and lower cancerous damage to them.
• Lesser Diabetes Risk and Clean System: It is good in cleansing the digestive system and maintaining free bowel movement.
• Eye Health Improvement: Guava is rich in retinol (Vitamin A)
• Regulation of blood pressure levels: Potassium in guavas helps normalise blood pressure levels.
• Nervous Relaxant: Guava is rich in magnesium which acts as a nervous relaxant.
• Healthy Mind: It helps to keep brain functions positive by maintaining good blood flow.
• Improves Complexion: Pink guava helps in making the skin beautiful.
• UV Protection: Lycopene, in guavas, is an antioxidant that protects the skin from being damaged by UV rays and environmental pollution.
• Combats Hair Loss: Being rich in vitamin C, guava is one of those fruits that promote healthy hair growth. It also helps in combating hair loss problems.
• Skin Hydration: Guava is an excellent source of water with 81% of the fruit comprising of water thus playing an important role in skin hydration.
  
  Shalini Dutta
  Msc.Media || PG:1
  
  
  

Destinations this summer

Shillong : A cheerful family holiday destination

The fresh mountain air and the clear blue sky is a powerful combination that will makes your excursion in Shillong remarkable! The beauty of North East never fails to impress travel enthusiasts. Situated in the East Khasi Hills, Shillong is one of the most easily accessible cities in North East India. Mused with pristine nature and a fine mixture of culture and tradition, Shillong is one of the best places for a family vacations. Relax and rejuvenate your senses and slowly get drifted in the cheerful ambiance here. You can visit Lady Hydari Park, Ward’s Lake, Shillong Golf Course, Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Cultures, Crinoline Falls, Spread Eagle Falls, and Sweet Falls and many other places and attractions around Shillong like Elephant Falls, Sohpetbneng Peak, Jakrem, Ranikor and Dawki.

Almora : A soulful holiday in the lap of Uttarakhand

Another gem from the pocket of Uttarakhand, Almora is well known for its unique cultural heritage, fascinating handicraft, succulent cuisine, and rich flora and fauna. Wrapped with greenery and graced by River Kosi. Chittai Temple and beautiful sunrise and sunset of Bright End Corner, Almora is indeed a gift to nature lovers. The mix of quaint and urban setting with the lofty mountains as a backdrop makes it an ideal summer holiday destination. Places of interest are Kasar Devi, Martola, Katarmal Sun Temple and Baijnath Temple for an exhilarating experience. A short walk from Almora city is Simtola, which is an ideal picnic spot with fine alignment of pine and deodar trees making the place picturesque! Almora is also the perfect destination for spending a family holiday because it offers every family member equal opportunity to enjoy.

Ranikhet: A laidback holiday specialist

Situated at a distance of about 63 kms from Nainital, Ranikhet is a green, quiet and picturesque hill station in North India. An ideal destination for a laidback holiday experience is right in the lap of nature. Ranikhet rejuvenates and makes the experience of travelling with family more special. Chaubatia Garden is an apple garden, sprawling over an area of about 265 acres. Mamkhameshwar Temple, Tarikhet, Syalikhet and Bhalu Dam are popular places in Ranikhet that one can visit with family. Trekking in Ranikhet is also an option. As it is a calm and quiet place, you will enjoy your long leisure walks in the nearby forest areas. Also, one can enjoy the traditional Kumaoni delight in many of the restaurants situated in the market area here.

Mussoorie: A completely refreshing holiday experience:

Situated at an elevation of 2000 metres, Mussoorie has always been a popular tourist destination in India. Green rolling hills and varied flora makes it a living fairyland. Mussoorie becomes quite crowded in the summers. A ropeway or the cable car ride to Gun Hill offers a fantastic panoramic view. The Mall Road is quite the charmer as this place allows tourists to shop for various gifts and souvenirs to take with them for their family members and friends. Another fun place to visit in Mussoorie is Kempty Falls, where one can enjoy bathing under a giant waterfall to one’s heart’s content. Other than these Cloud End and Lal Tibba are some must visits in Mussoorie.

Shalini Dutta
Msc.Media || PG:1

Lakmé fashion week : Summer resort 2015

Lakmé Fashion Week since its past 15 years has been promoting India's rich handloom culture and giving an admirable platform to potential designers. The summer-resort publication of the fashion gala, which got over on Sunday, was again a step forward in that trend.

Lakmé Fashion Week’s role as a podium for promoting young and promising designers was quite visible on the opening day of the summer-resort 2015 edition on March 18, where some fresh faces showcased their unique and desirable creations under out-of-the-box themes.

Presented by INIFD and mentored by ace couturier Anita Dongre, the 19th publication of the Gen Next show witnessed collections that were an extraordinary mix of creativity, style, innovation. Some who amazed with their creativity were Alan Alexander Kaleekal, Ankit Carpenter, Kanika Goyal, Manish Bansal, Priyanka Ella Lorena Lama and Salita Nanda.

Besides earning the viewers ovation, these designers struck a chord with buyers. The overall response from the buyers and international stores was extremely positive, Lakme fashion week got enquires from Aza, Malgaadi, Ogaan, Creo, Minerali, Amaara, Vyoum, Solo Look, Sade and Iness told Karan Berry and Leon Vaz of the label Karleo, to IANS.

Another designer, Farah Sanjana, who is four seasons old, said that Lakmé Fashion Week has always been good in terms of business. This season too, she has got an incredible response. Her clothes have been loved by National and International buyers and have placed orders from US, Dubai and London.

The progress has been immense, said Purnima Lamba, head of innovation at Lakmé, the event's title sponsor.

Sharing the journey of completion of Lakmé Fashion Week’s 15-year journey in the Indian fashion industry, Lamba told IANS that she thinks that they had made a lot of progress from the day they began. As a start-up, they knew that they would be defining the future of fashion. So, whether it's Gen Next show or Indian Textile Day, they made sure that they are setting a benchmark.

Lakmé Fashion Week dedicates a day to Indian textiles each time. And on day two of the gala this time, the organisers felicitated designers promoting use of textiles.

The day started with well-known designers Raghavendra Rathore, Sabyasachi Mukherjee and Anita Dongre being lauded by Textile Commissioner Sajay Kumar Panda for their unremitting contribution to promote Indian textile and handloom. Conference was also held on how they can be popularised as a new style statement among fashion-conscious youth.

This was the time when Mukherjee, one of most influential names in the world of fashion, appealed to all corporate in India to set aside a day for Indian wear. He said it would be great if Indian youth could wear textiles and bring about a revolution.

In the remaining days what followed was a display of various silhouettes by a plethora of designers.

There were a total of 83 designers participated in the just-concluded edition of Lakmé Fashion Week. Separately that from emerging and young designers, there were also some of the stalwarts who promoted India-inspired fashion on the runway. The names included the likes of Raghavendra Rathore, Tarun Tahiliani, Wendell Rodricks, Kiran Uttam Gosh, Krishna Mehta, Manish Malhotra, Suneet Verma and Shivan & Narresh.

There were also two international names which could not be missed-

The German lifestyle clothing company Tom Tailor showcased casual and unsophisticated clothing, designer Natalie Jolliffe of brand Miss Bennett London offered a mix of ensembles for the fashion forward young women, looking for a distinct style statement.

And how could the presence of Bollywood be given a miss for a fashion event in Mumbai? There were dollops of B-Town glamour with Shraddhha Kapoor, Aditya Roy Kapur, Arjun Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, Kalki Koechlin, Tamannaah Bhatia and the ever-so-graceful Shabana Azmi on the ramp.

Shrilekha Chanda

Msc.Media || PG:1

Rules are meant to br broken

Bollywood is no stranger to run-ins with law. The renewed furore over the 2002 hit and run case involving actor Salman Khan, reminds us that several Bollywood big-wigs have been found on the wrong side of law.

Many actors and actresses have been imprisoned or fined or both in cases that include drunken brawls, arms possession, fake passports, domestic violence and drugs-related legalities, among others.

Here's a list of Bollywood actors with legal cases:

1. Shiney Ahuja

On March 30, 2011, a judge had sentenced Ahuja to seven years of rigourous imprisonment for raping his domestic help on 14 June, 2009 and imposed a fine of Rs. 3000. Despite the domestic help retracting her statement, the sessions court convicted Ahuja based on circumstantial evidence.

According to a report the actor sought that his appeal against the judgement be heard expeditiously but the Bombay High Court rejected it.

2. John Abraham

In April 2006, John Abraham rammed his Suzuki Hayabusa motorbike into a bicycle and injured two people. Six years later, a Bandra court had sentenced him to 15 days of rigorous imprisonment for rash driving, after taking him into custody.

However, the Bombay High Court granted him bail in the case, and he escaped a jail term despite the conviction being upheld by a sessions court.

3. Tabu, Neelam and Sonali Bendre

Salman Khan and Saif Ali Khan aren't the only actors involved in the black buck case. Eyewitnesses have said that while shooting for Hum Saath Saath Hai, Tabu, Neelam and Sonali Bendre had been seen in the vehicle with Salman and Saif while Salman allegedly shot down two black bucks.

4. Saif Ali Khan

In 2012, Saif Ali Khan along with Kareena Kapoor, her sister Karishma Kapoor, actress Amrita Arora and her husband Shakeel Ladak, Bilal Amrohi and Malaika Arora Khan were having dinner at Wasabi Restaurant in Taj, Colaba, when he allegedly punched a South-African businessman who was seated next to him. He was later booked for assault under section 325 of IPC.

5. Monica Bedi

Not only was Monica Bedi in the limelight as the lover of gangster Abu Salem, who is in jail for the murder of music baron Gulshan Kumar, she was also arrested in Portugal, for entering the country with fake documents.After spending two and half years in jail, an SC Bench comprising Justices B Sudershan Reddy and S S Nijjar reduced her sentence to the two-and-a-half years she has already spent in jail for the offence, after her extradition from Portugal along with Salem in November 2006.

6. Fardeen Khan

In May 2001, actor Fardeen Khan was caught attempting to buy cocaine and was arrested from his Juhu home for possession
of narcotics.

7. Dimple Kapadia, Twinkle Khanna and Akshay Kumar

Rajesh Khanna's live-in partner Anita Advani had lodged a domestic violence complaint against Dimple Kapadia and her family, claiming that she was evicted from Khanna’s juhu bungalow. She seeked monthly maintenance and a flat in Bandra.

8. Amitabh Bachchan

During the time Amitabh Bachchan was a Congress MP from Allahabad for 3 years from 1984-87, his name was also involved in the Bofors scam. Amitabh and his brother were accused of receving kickbacks around the Bofors deal, estimated at a $12 million scandal.It was later revealed that Bachchan was falsely accused, when the Swedish whistle blower and policeman Sten Lindstrom revealed that Amitabh had no involvement in the case. "From day one we have been saying that we are innocent,” said Bachchan.

9. Puru Raj Kumar

The eldest son of Bollywood legend Raaj Kumar, and also a failed bollywood actor, Puru Raj Kumar allegedly drunkenly trampled 8 people on street in Bandra, Mumbai. He allegedly lost control of his car and while negotiating a sharp turn, rammed into labourers sleeping on the street. He killed 3 people and seriously injured two.

10. Shah Rukh Khan

In 2013, post the birth of SRK's third child AbRam, a sex determination case had been filed against Shah Rukh Khan and his wife Gauri in a Mumbai court, by a social activist Varsha Deshpande who, along with several other female foeticide activists, wanted to know how the couple were aware of the sex of the baby beforehand.

11. Sanjay Dutt

One of the more high-profile arrests following the 1993 serial blasts in Mumbai, Sanjay Dutt was arrested in April under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention Act) TADA, for illegally possessing a 9 mm pistol and an AK 56 assault rifle.He had been given a five-year sentence by the Supreme Court for illegal weapons possession. The actor was jailed for 16 month between 1994 and 1995, and for a few weeks again in 2007. He is currently in jail finishing his 5 year term.

Swaralipi Dasgupta

Msc.Media || PG:1

NASA curiosity has found existence of water in the Mars

Mars may have liquid water close to its surface, according to new data from Nasa's Curiosity rover which raises the chance of finding life on the red planet.

Researchers have long known that there was water in the form of ice on Mars. Now, new research on data from Curiosity shows that it is possible that there is liquid water close to the surface of Mars. The explanation is that the substance has been found in the soil, which lowers the freezing point so the water does not freeze into ice, but is liquid and present in very salty salt water.

"We have discovered the substance calcium percolate in the soil and, under the right conditions, it absorbs water vapour from the atmosphere," said Morten Bo Madsen, associate professor and head of the Mars Group at the Niels Bohr Institute at the University of Copenhagen.

"Our measurements from the Curiosity rover's weather monitoring station show that these conditions exist at night and just after sunrise in the winter. Based on measurements of humidity and the temperature at a height of 1.6 meters and at the surface of the planet, we can estimate the amount of water that is absorbed," said Madsen.

Madsen added that when night falls, some of the water vapour in the atmosphere condenses on the planet surface as frost, but calcium percolate is very absorbent and it forms a brine with the water, so the freezing point is lowered and the frost can turn into a liquid.

"The soil is porous, so what we are seeing is that the water seeps down through the soil. Over time, other salts may also dissolve in the soil and now that they are liquid, they can move and precipitate elsewhere under the surface," said Madsen.

Observations by the Mars probe's stereo camera have previously shown areas characteristic of old riverbed that clearly show that a long time ago there was flowing, running water with a depth of up to one meter. Now the new close-up images taken by the rover all the way en route to Mount Sharp show that there are expanses of sedimentary deposits, lying as 'plates' one above the other and leaning a bit toward Mount Sharp.

"These kind of deposits are formed when large amounts of water flow down the slopes of the crater and these streams of water meet the stagnant water in the form of a lake. When the stream meets the surface, the solid material carried by the stream falls down and is deposited in the lake just at the lakeshore. Gradually, a slightly inclined slope is built up just below the surface of the water and traces of such slanting deposits were found during the entire trip to Mount Sharp.

Very fine-grained sediments, which slowly fell down through the water, were deposited right at the very bottom of the crater lake. "The sediment plates on the bottom are level, so everything indicates that the entire Gale Crater may have been a large lake," Madsen added.

Swaralipi Dasgupta

Msc.Media || PG:1

If Salman Khan had run over a bollywood superstar

On a drunken night behind the wheel of a car, had Bollywood superstar Salman Khan mowed down a fellow Bollywood superstar, would there have been any debate on the quantum of punishment that the actor deserved? Or for that matter, would there have been any debate on whether he deserved to be punished at all?

If the victim had been somebody other than a faceless, impoverished pavement dweller, would there have been a teeny weeny bit more sympathy for the family of the deceased and not merely the family of Salman Khan?

Would the view that the judiciary had handed Salman Khan an exemplary sentence because of his celebrity status have been trotted out if he had killed another Bollywood star?

I can’t quite think of a word that means the opposite of exemplary, but that’s just the sort of word I would use for Bollywood today.

There are many things that I have grown to admire about Bollywood. I admire some of the excellent films that have been produced by the Hindi film industry. I admire Bollywood’s contribution to public relations — Hindi films are a hit in a diverse range of countries from Russia to Turkey.

But on Wednesday morning, I cringed with disgust as I saw Bollywood come out in full strength to support Salman Khan. There was an outpouring of sadness over Khan’s conviction, with not a word of sympathy for the kith and kin of the man who died on the city’s pavements.

It was almost as if Khan had been convicted for swatting a fly. Those who fit snugly into their Being Human T-shirts seemed to have forgotten that a man who’s dirt poor and sleeps on a pavement still qualifies as a human being.

While many in Bollywood merely ignored the existence of the pavement dweller who was killed, the award for the most cringe worthy comment would have to go to playback singer Abhijeet, who had this to say on Twitter: “Kutta rd pe soyega kutte ki maut marega, roads garib ke baap ki nahi hai I ws homles an year nvr slept on rd.”

Loosely translated, he feels that if a dog sleeps on the streets, he should die like a dog. He goes on to say that the roads aren’t a poor man’s father’s property, adding that, though he, too, was homeless for a year, he never slept on the streets.

The tweet says much about the playback singer’s views on animals and people. While he has rather strong views on people sleeping on pavements, he seems to have no problem with people driving on them.

After watching Dabang, I actually thought the deceased man will be convicted for sleeping on the pavement instead. Barring a few rare birds like Abhijeet, the deceased man was all but forgotten by the film industry.

“@BeingSalmanKhan is a man who has always helped d underprivileged! A man who has done so much humanitarian work. Prayers for a fair judgement,” says Bipasha Basu. I can’t quite understand what “doing a lot for the underprivileged” has to do with being convicted for running over an underprivileged man. Are there so many underprivileged people in India that it doesn’t matter if you kill a few here and there?

While many prefixed their sympathy with a line on how they respected the court’s verdict, some actors like Arjun Kapoor, didn’t deem fit to do so. “It doesn’t matter what anyone or any court says he doesn’t deserve this at any level…will stand by @BeingSalmanKhan no matter what…” says Kapoor, clearly an expert in the law.

“It hurts when your own are punished, even if they are in the wrong. We love you and are standing by you,” says actor Alia Bhatt. Of course, the pavement dweller and his family aren’t “her own.”

Once again, I wonder how Bollywood would have reacted if Khan’s car lost control and rammed into a Bollywood star, sitting, standing, sleeping, singing, dancing or pirouetting on the pavement. What if he had killed “one of their own?”

Taru Bhatia

Msc.Media || PG:1

India’s fight for net neutrality

The Net Neutrality debate is unlikely to die down anytime soon in India and continues to be a topic of interest both on social media and the mainstream news. While Flikpart, the company that faced a strong backlash for joining the Airtel Zero programme has withdrawn from it and come out in support of Net Neutrality, the debate is unlikely to die down since TRAI, India’s telecom regulator, is still looking at a regulatory framework for OTT players like Skype, WhatsApp. We take a look at the various statements that have been made around the Net Neutrality debate in India so far.

Flipkart’s first stand: Sachin Bansal Flipkart CEO initially defended his company’s decision to be a part of Airtel Zero.

He wrote on Twitter, “When foreign companies do it in India – Innovation. Indians do it – Violation. #NetNeutralityDiscrimination? I’m for #NetNeutrality. I spend time/money helping start ups in India. Will never support things which suffocate innovation. Zero-rated apps for limited time doesn’t go against #NetNeutrality. Costs/competition are very high. Can’t be sustained for long Zero-rating only reduces data costs for users. Fears of a telecom big brother emerging are unfounded. Choice wins. Always.”

Airtel’s statement on its zero-rating programme: Airtel had put out a statement defending their Airtel Zero programme.The company had said that, “Airtel Zero provides universal access and is free for all our customers. Customers have the choice to decide whether they want to come there or not.”We have had lots of ‘small’ start-ups calling us and congratulating us for building this platform, which offers them a great opportunity to market their products at very low costs. Over 150 companies are already in touch with us and want to sign up.”

Mark Zuckerberg defending Internet.org: Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook CEO came out to defend his Internet.org programme. He said that Net Neutrality was equally important and that ISPs should not be allowed to discriminate and limit access.

However he added that, “For people who are not on the internet though, having some connectivity and some ability to share is always much better than having no ability to connect and share at all. That’s why programs like Internet.org are important and can co-exist with net neutrality regulations.”

Flipkart when it withdrew from Airtel Zero: After initially defending themselves, Flipkart gave in to the social media furor and withdrew from the controversial Airtel Zero rating system.

The company then issued a statement saying,“We at Flipkart have always strongly believed in the concept of net neutrality, for we exist because of the Internet. Over the past few days, there has been a great amount of debate, both internally and externally, on the topic of zero rating, and we have a deeper understanding of the implications.”

The government of India:  Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad issued a statement that the telecom sector regulator TRAI is holding wide consultations on the issue and its report is also awaited.“TRAI is undertaking a consultation on the issue of Net neutrality. TRAI being an advisory body, their advice is certainly entitled to our respect, which I am awaiting,”

TRAI chief: Telecom regulator Rahul Khullar said there was a need for a democratic debate on net neutrality, especially against the backdrop of a big corporate war between a media house and a telecom operator.

“There are passionate voices on both sides of the debate. And if that was not enough, there’s a corporate war going on between a media house and a telecom operator which is confounding already difficult matters,” Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) chairman Khullar told The Indian Express.

IAMAI slams TRAI:  The Internet and Mobile Association of India, which counts firms like Google, Facebook, Snapdeal, Ola, MakeMyTrip and Saavn as its members, slammed TRAI and its paper.

Ray said in a statement that, “the paper makes an assumption that Internet doesn’t come under any regulations, which is incorrect. All Internet companies are regulated by IT Act.

ClearTrip’s statement after it withdrew from Facebook’s Internet.org: ClearTrip, which was one of the partners in Facebook’s Internet.org, withdrew from the initiative after the whole debate on Net Neutrality exploded.

NDTV pulling out of Internet.org: NDTV, another partner of Internet.org, also announced its decision to pull out of the venture. “NDTV is committed to net neutrality and is therefore exiting, and will not be a part of, Facebook’s Internet.org initiative,” tweeted co-founder and co-chairman Pranoy Roy.

Times of India: Times of India decided to withdraw from the initiative as well. The company in a statement said that “in the case of the group’s properties such as TimesJobs and Maharashtra Times, where its competitors are not on zero-rate platforms, these properties will pull out of internet.org.”

Bharti Airtel: Airtel CEO Gopal Mittal wrote an email saying that the company was not against Net Neutrality and that misinformation was being spread about its Airtel Zero platform.

TRAI chief:  Telecom watchdog TRAI Chairman Rahul Khullar said “shrill voices” will not win the

And finally comedy group AIB’s statement on the whole Net Neutrality debate has been the strongest one yet. 

Taru Bhatia

Msc.Media || PG:1

45th transfer in 24 years

A painful moment for IAS officer Ashok Khemka strikes back yet again. He is once again in the news thanks to the Haryana government’s decision to transfer him from the State Transport Department to a low profile Archaelogy and Museums Department. The decision was taken on Wednesday, April 1.  According to the reports, this is Khemka’s 45^th transfer in his 24 years of service.

On hearing this story, a general question that arises on every reader’s mind is what did he do to earn another transfer! According to NDTV, Khemka reportedly had a disagreement with state Transport Minister Ram Bilas Sharma over an order given by Khemka to penalise overloaded vehicles. A report in Times Of India added that Khemka had denied fitness certificates to over-sized trucks and vehicles which caused a strike in Haryana in January. 

The report adds that Khemka’s stance that the vehicle rules should be strictly implemented irked the transporter’s lobby. Khemka had been last posted in November 2014 as Transport Commissioner and Secretary has now been transferred and given the dual charge of Sectretary and Director General, Archaelogy and Museums department.

                  

On an earlier note, Khemka had also shot to limelight soon after he cancelled a Rs 58 crore land deal between Robert Vadra, son-in-law of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, with reality business giant DLF in 2012. 

The then Congress government in Haryana filed a chargesheet against Khemka. Soon after, the BJP government took charge at the centre, the Civil Services Board approved a central deputation for Khemka. He also reported that he was facing death threats for taking on Vadra. 1991 batch Haryana cadre IAS officer Khemka has worked in the Civil Services for over 24 years with over 45 postings. On a Twitter post, Khemka wrote, ‘Tried hard to address corruption and bring reforms in Transport despite severe limitations and entrenched interests. Moment is truly painful’.

                

However, Haryana government has dismissed the allegation that it was targeting Khemka and has called it a routine decision. It should be noted that nine other officers such as Ram Niwas, Vijai Vardhan, Sumita Mishra, Chander Prakash and others has also been transferred by the Haryana government. Whether India is losing on its honest officers is indeed a thought to be pondered upon right now. 

Sohini Majumder
Msc.Media || PG:1

#IPL2015

The much controversial game series, where ‘entertainment meets business’ is back yet again. Indian Premiere League 2015 is back exactly an year later with bigger and better promises. This time IPL will solely be played in India, starting from 8^th April-May 24^th. Both the opening and closing ceremony’s venue has been chosen to be as Kolkata. The auction of IPL 2015 was recently held in  Bangalore on 16^th February. 

It was presided over by the eminent owners of all the 8 teams.This year teams have seen a lot of changes and players were hand picked by their bosses. Of the 349 players who features in this year’s IPL, 67 were sold. This comprises of 43 Indians and 24 players from overseas. The most expensive buy with a whooping 16 crore has been made from the side of Delhi Daredevils. Yuvraj Singh is the man chosen for this buy. Other top buys have been bowler Dinesh Kartick, all rounder Angelo Mathews, bowler Zaheer Khan, Trent Boult, Amit Mishra and others. 

The total money spent behind buying the players amounts to INR 87,60,00,000. All the players seems to be very happy and content with their teams as been chosen in the auction, as per evident from their Twitter tweets.

A special aspect of this year would be the viewing of IPL by its US fans. The Media rights of the IPL for the US region was awarded to M/S ESPN INC at a total fee of USD 12.4 million for a 3-year period. 3 bids were recieved by closing time from M/S Willow, Times Internet and ESPN, out of which ESPN won the bid.

‘We are delighted to have entered into a strategic partnership with one of the leading platforms of global sport, M/S ESPN, which will deliver the widest possible reach ever for the IPL in the United States’, said Hony Secretary,BCCI, Sanjay Patel. Another special feature of this year’s game would be to see the iconic Australian leader as an Indian mentor. Ricky Ponting will wear a new hat this time. The hat will have the words ‘Head Coach’ embossed on it, figuratively not firmly. He would be mentoring Mumbai Indians.

IPL, where ‘Cricket goes Corporate’, as judged from the business standpoint is indeed a cricket tournament developed primarily as a valuable commercial property. This year’s game is, like always awaited with each team and its respective region folks eyeing on the cup. We, all as mere audiences are eager to take part in the ‘entertainment’ part of it, while letting the rest make business.

Sohini Majumder
Msc.Media || PG:1

Role of technology in the classroom

It has taken a while, but I think I have finally come up with a single, comprehensive and actionable statement of the role of technology in the classroom. This is crucial, because many educators are becoming confused and frustrated by the myriad approaches and ways of talking about technology’s role. Although much in twenty-first century education still needs to be figured out, such as creating a generally-agreed-upon twenty-first century curriculum, one goal is, I think, now clear – the pedagogy with which our kids should be taught. 

Although it can be stated in many ways, the basic direction is away from the “old” pedagogy of teachers “telling” (or talking, or lecturing, or being the “Sage on the Stage”) to the “new” pedagogy of kids teaching themselves with teacher’s guidance (a combination of “student-centered learning,” “problem-based learning,” “case-based learning,” and the teacher’s being the “Guide on the Side.”) Of course this pedagogy is not really new, except, at the moment, to many of our teachers. Every teacher and administrator is, currently, somewhere on a continuum between the old and the new paradigms. Our herculean task is to move all of them, around the world, to the new pedagogy as quickly as possible.

Today’s technology, though, offers students all kinds of new, highly effective tools they can use to learn on their own – from the Internet with almost all the information, to search and research tools to sort out what is true and relevant, to analysis tools to help make sense of it, to creation tools to present one’s findings in a variety of media, to social tools to network and collaborate with people around the world. And while the teacher can and should be a guide, most of these tools are best used by students, not teachers.

Students around the world are resisting the old “telling” paradigm with all their might. When their teachers lecture they just put their heads down, text their friends, and, in general, stop listening. But these same students are eager to use class time to teach themselves, just as they do after school when they go out and use their technology to learn, on their own, about whatever interests them. Students tell us, successful schools (mostly charters) tell us, and even our most successful teachers tell us: the new pedagogy works. So before we can successfully introduce technology into our schools, we have to take a prior step.

 We must get our teachers – hard as it may be in some cases – to stop lecturing, and start allowing the kids to learn by themselves. Instead of coming in with lesson plans that begin “Here are the three causes of [whatever], please take notes,” they need to say “There are three main causes of [whatever it is]. You have 15 minutes to use your technology to find them, and then we’ll discuss what you’ve found.”

Akib Sultan
Msc.Media || PG:1

The real taste of Kolkata

I am shocked when I hear my friends, who are born and have been practically living their whole life in Kolkata say they haven’t heard or have never been to Zakria street. 

This old street is the heart of Kolkata’s rich Muslim culture and Mughal cuisine. Everyone in Kolkata who loves food knows the big names like Arsalan, Siraz, Zeeshan, Aminya,  who offer the best in Mughal cuisine like Biryani, Tandoori and Kebabs. 

But amongst these big names there is small Kebab shop known as well it doesn’t have any name never had any its just know as the “khiri  kebab place”, whose name may not be as famous but offer the best kebab in whole of Kolkata. They have been serving the same food for three generations over 100 yrs in the same style as the day it was started. 

The people who have tasted it have gone back again and again for more. They send specialized orders as far as UAE, Hyderabad, Banglore. The best thing about this place is that its price is as old as the shop you can still have a stick at just 6 bucks .

What makes me more attached to this place is that it and I has a similarity, like the place which has been there for generations serving delicious meat my family has been going there for generations to eat the delicious meat. my grandfather used to take my father there and my father now takes me there every time he visits Kolkata. It has quite become a tradition.

Akib Sultan
Msc.Media || PG:1

Pace with the new age e- commerce

Commerce, in its very spirit carries the transnational spirit. It has been years men have traded goods, commodities and emotions across the sea accepting diverse faiths, beliefs and culture. Now with the coming of technological revolution in the 20^th century and the proliferating popularity of social media in 21^st century this age old commerce have got exalted to a different platform where transmission of every service occurs in fractions of seconds and transfusion of cultures have become more elaborate. The coming of e commerce has developed trading in its every form and has opened a new arena of merchandise across the globe.

E commerce entails benefits for both – customers and sellers. The market trends, industry requirements, upcoming challenges etc can be well mapped by the sellers because transactions are happening over ‘internet’. This gives profound insight about consumer behavior to the sellers which can be translated into profitable strategies for future. On the consumer’s end the biggest joy comes from the multiplicity of options one achieves through e commerce. 

The internet space becomes the only platform for all sellers to put their stocks and it is available to everyone across the globe. It enhances the reach of both sellers and buyers to a sky rocketing level. The sellers have more consumers to display their products whereas the buyers have a higher range of variety to make their choice.

In addition to several other benefits one of the other major benefit comes from ‘cost’. E- Commerce has completely removed the physical cost incurred in running a business by making it all virtual. As the cost of production reduces yet the profit maximization opportunities remain higher, the output cost is reduced which is a sheer joy for the buyers. Over internet there is no lack of information or authenticity issues due to the massive use of different software solutions which helps to retain the security concerns for business houses and it also helps to prosper in equal equilibrium.

Internet is the new age boat. It is sailing effectively and is continuously on a rise to develop. Organizations across the globe are rapidly coming into its foray and will soon be replacing all other models of communication in a large way. It is no longer wise to ignore it and tread in other channels of communication. To prosper, it is important to think smart and to pace with the world it is now indispensable to sail  the new age ‘ boat’.

Anasua Mitra 

Msc.Media || PG:1

How architects can cearn from the organic and local food movements

As a supporter of traditional urban design and a believer in the contemporary relevance of traditional architecture, I cannot count the number of times I have heard generally well-meaning, otherwise reasonable people say the words: “Well, we cannot pretend that we are building in the nineteenth century.”  This statement envelops within its svelte hide a veritable swarm of debatable assumptions, many of which lie at the heart of global architecture culture’s current malaise.

I find it is usually useless to attack these assumptions directly by asking complicated questions such as “What is it about symmetry or ornament that makes them the exclusive property of any particular historical period, considering the fact that they are found almost everywhere, in almost every era?”  Instead I have lately taken to nursing the argument from another, indirect angle — an approach that has, to my surprise and delight, enjoyed some success in pubs and classrooms around the world. 

It is fun to take this line of questioning further.  What would our dinner tables look like if culinary culture were half as hung up on the rigid rulebook of progressive aesthetics as architecture culture is?  Would we be allowed to eat bread or rice, or would they be forbidden due to their unspeakable antiquity?  Would regional fare using locally harvested ingredients be celebrated as part of a rich, diverse, interconnected world of unique traditions, or would it be condemned as provincial nostalgia?

The histories of food and modern architecture have, actually, long been intertwined, on many levels.  By the early 20th century, many people in the Western world assumed that no aspect of our lives would go untouched by the rise of industry, including the way we eat. (See adjacent cartoons!) 

Prominent architects such as Adolf Loos argued that simplicity in architecture should be matched by simplicity in cuisine, because truly modern people had no need for ostentatious ornaments either on their façades or on their dinner plates.  After World War II, Americans in particular were enthusiastic about the cheap and convenient edibles that industry was bringing to the table. TV dinners, synthetic factory foodstuffs like BAC-Os, SPAM and Velveeta, monosodium glutamate and eventually microwave-radiation, push-button cooking were all rolled out as triumphs of the age, tokens of modernity to be embraced alongside automobiles, rockets to the moon and, of course, modern architecture. And then the tide turned. 

Many of today’s young progressives — many of whom were raised in the TV glow of suburbia absorbing luminous, corn syrup-based “fruit snacks” — have whole-heartedly rejected industrially processed, chemical-infused products in favor of foods only their great-grandparents would recognize.  And remarkably, such organically produced victuals are not ridiculed as the product of nostalgic reaction, but lauded as the fuel of cutting-edge progress! 

I believe they should be equally open to traditional architectural ingredients such as locally sourced natural materials, organic symmetry, humanistic proportion, craft production and “applied” ornament.  As we can see in our farm fields and pastures, old things are not invalid simply due to their age.  

Indeed, many of the modern promises about the future of food have turned out to be hollow, and one of the chief challenges of our times is figuring out how to undo some of the damage of industrial agricultural practices.

Aniket Dutta

Msc.Media || PG:1

The poison in which conservatives marinate

If one look at poll results saying that most Republicans think Barack Obama is a Kenyan Muslim enacting a secret plan to destroy America and think, “What the hell is wrong with these people?”, one have to understand that it gets reinforced day after day after day by media sources they believe to be lonely islands of truth amid a sea of lies. 

Yes, they hear it from politicians like Rudy Giuliani, who seems to be on some kind of mission to prove himself to be America’s most despicable cretin. But that only reinforces the river of political sewage that flows into their ears each and every day.

To wit, here’s Republican uber-pundit Erick Erickson, filling in for Rush Limbaugh and telling his millions of listeners what they want to hear:

“Barack Obama believes that for the world to be more safe the United States must be less safe. For the world to be more stable the United States must be less stable. Barack Obama believes the United States of America is a destabilizing, arrogant force in the world, we need our comeuppance and we need to be humbled. And so everything Barack Obama does domestically and in foreign policy is designed to humble the arrogant crackers who have always run the United States.”

Yes, that’s right, “arrogant crackers.” How on earth anyone could get the idea that the attacks on Obama by people like Erickson are meant to stoke their audience’s racial resentments, I have no idea.

As a general rule, whenever you hear a conservative pundit start a sentence with “Barack Obama believes…” you’re about to hear something that not only bears no plausible relationship to reality but is also meant to play on the worst instincts of his or her audience? And it is simply impossible to overstate the ubiquity of this particular theme in conservative media: Barack Obama hates not just America but white people in general, and all of his policies are meant to exact racial vengeance upon them. This is the rancid stew of fantasy, hatred, and yes, racism in which millions upon millions of conservatives have spent the last six years marinating.

To my conservative friends: I know that you are obsessed with the idea that conservatives are constantly being unfairly accused of racism. And there are certainly times when some liberals are too quick to see racist intent in a comment that may be innocuous or at worst unintentionally provocative. But you make heroes out of people like Giuliani, Limbaugh, and Erickson. 

You applaud them, honor them, extol them, and when other people occasionally notice the caustic hairballs of bile they spit onto waiting microphones, the most you can say is, “Well, I wouldn’t go that far.” So you have nothing to complain about.

Aniket Dutta

Msc.Media || PG:1

India International Jewellery Week 2014 : Highlights

Leading jewelers, designers and graduates from the Indian Institute of Gems and Jewellery, Delhi, showcased their creations at the gala event presented by the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council. Indian jewelry designers created the most intrinsic and inspired jewelry, making bold statements across the globe. IIJW provided an international platform to India's talented designers and design houses to showcase their beautiful and contemporary jewelry collections.

The IIJW show took place over a four-day period, from July 14 to July 17. 

Day One- Sunny Leone weaves black magic; Lisa Ray and Kalki Koechlin are red hot

Former Miss India Neha Dhupia and actress Chitrangada Singh were both modeling for Gitanjali Jewels.

Day one of IIJW 2014 featured collections from designers such as Gitanjali, Farah Ali Khan,IIGJ, Shobha Shringar, Apala by Sumit, Moni Agarwal, Surya Golds and Jewels by Preeti.

Chitrangda Singh showcased rocking jewels by Moni Agarwal.

Day Two -Sagarija Ghatke walking the ramp for Ganjam

Day two of the event featured collections from Gitanjali, Swarovski, AKS Jewels, Dipti Amisha,Ganjam, IIGJ Delhi and P.N. Gadgil.

Zarine Khan walked for Swarovski.

Day Three-Kriti Sanon showcased jewelry from Mahabir Danwar. Sonam Kapoor, Sridevi and Parineeti Chopra took to the ramp on Day 3

Day three featured elegantly lovely jewelry from IIGJ Jaipur, NID, Saboo Fine Jewels, Emerald,Mahabir & KIK Jewels, Golecha Jewels, Nazraana by Rip Tinto and Biridhichand Ghanshyamdas Jewellers.

The Best Of The Best

The best of the best show took place on the last day of IIJW. It featured one standout piece each from the many gorgeous collections shown in the first there days of India International Jewellery Week 2014. 

There were 21 entries from the different brands and designers that were there to make waves in the global jewelry scene.Bipasha Basu walked down the ramp for PC Jewellers The grand finale, after the various brands showcased the best of their work, was showstopper Sonam Kapoor, the brand ambassador for India International Jewellery week 2014, wearing Ganjam creations. At the end of the show Kapoor, along with Vipul Shah, Pankaj Parekh and Sanjay Kothari, honoured and thanked all the participants of IIJW who made the event a great success.

P C Jeweller Showcased Dual Grand Finales To Mark The End Of The Very Extravagant Show

The dual Grand Finales presented by P C Jeweller to mark the end of the very extravagant India International Jewellery Week 2014 presented by Nazraana in Association with P C Jeweller were glitzy events when the country’s top brands and designers showcased their fabulous collections.

Winged angels were perched along the walls of the Ballroom in the Hotel Grand Hyatt, which were covered in glistening black. Peacocks and birds of paradise danced on the backdrop as giant lotus bloomed on either side of the stage and four shimmering columns of crystal streamers glittered from the ceiling to floor. The stage was covered with a giant Zodiac wheel that featured the twelve signs and the black patterned mirror edged ramp was ready for a grand dazzling happening.

Stepping on to the stage, Mr Vipul Shah, Chairman, GJEPC thanked everybody including all the sponsors, for a grand show and a very successful fifth edition of the India International Jewellery Week 2014 event, which created excitement in Mumbai.

Anindita Sinha
Msc.Media || PG:1